Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-10-06

IN TseS ~ chief, Gen. Fair
MM\SH "a child, presided.
~M INN The Following
@FWM .NWNo emmittee on
EMSSIASeSsS CREDENTIALS was
vi RI appointed: Adit
6EHLOc5Us EiScsxxo. Gen Gray. Thomas
G. Stewart, Pennsylvania; John Thatcher,
Connecticnt; James E Stewart, Ohio; E
Henry jerks, Rhode Island The annual
address of the commander In chief. which Is
very long. was then presented
The general began by sending greetings to the
people Of the Pacific coast for the hospitality
and cordial reception OF last year. He sincerely
congratulated the order that they were per-
United to gather In this great metropolis, and
thanked the citizens OF st. Louis for their gen.
erous welcome. He was pleased TO announce
the evidence OF permanent and healthy growth
Of the Grand Army of the Republic and OF the
strong love Of the order entertained oy The loyal
he earnestly cautioned every member that he
keep q Waterfall guard over himself when he
acts or speaks as . member of the q X, and
not unconsciously further schemes foreign TO
the legitimate purposes Of the organization
Article o. forbidding the use Of the organization
for partisan purposes had. so far as be knew,
been strictly obeyed in letter and spirit. From
Ad1utAnt General Grays report he learned
that the total number OF members borne
on the rolls OF the order at the last national
we
ported June 80. 1877. was 372.6g4 actual gain
In i've years. 46,t5Z The increase OF members
In ninety days ending June 30, lss7. in good
634 members. In the last five quarters there
have been mustered1nto the Grand Army H.
500. There were reported june 80. 1881 In
good standing 326. 500: suspended. 26, 220: by
delinquent reports, To- S92; total az last returns
horne upon the rolls. 372.674-an increase In
membership that must be gratifying to all mem
bers. The amount reported expended in charity
March, asst to March. 1887, inclusive is S253,-
933.43 This money was dhsbursed TO 1850
comrades and their families: and 1899 others
were assisted, giving 26,6G0 individuals
who had received benefits during the year. He
had established the provisional departments OF
Idaho and Arizona During the year death had
claimed 3.406 members. He selected for,special
notice, John A. Logan, who In his life had man
Tested bis love not only IN words. but by active
public and private efforts Did any poor,
MANNED, helpless veteran need an advocate, did
the Grand Army need a defender, his vas the
first name that came to the lips. and ne was
never appealed to in vain The patent for the
Grand Army badge had been duly transferred
aud Is now the property CT the order The counr
CT OF administration has invested 100000 Of the
surplus funds OF the order in bonds Of the United
States
MEMORIAL DAY
wac more generally and appropriately observed
this year than ever before. This day, sacred to
the memory OF the fallen defenders OF the re-
public has become q most Impressive and ia
ceived by him from Joseph W. Drexei Offering
in perpetuity the cottage on Mount McGregor IN
which Gen U. s Grant spent his last days. 70
the survivors Of these gallant men who saved
the country, the only conditions being that the
cottage aud surrounding grounds be held In
trust BIZ the commander-in-chief OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic. the president OF the
Mount McGregor Railway company and another
to he named by the donor. Gen. Fsirchfld
recommended that IL bereferred 10 the incoming
commander-in-chfef with authority to accept
on satisfactory arrangements In September
last, when the citizens OF Charleston. s. @.
were suffering from the effects of a terrible
earthquake. the Grand Army Joined In the re-
lief be, In company with Adjt Gen. Gray,
went to the stricken city and called upon the
comrades to raise money for relief Collections
were rapidly made. and $7.047 was reported to
national headquarters. II was understood that
there was no immediate haste, and before the
collections had gotteL- fairly under way the
thas na u fpSthsr relief would be reauireS' Had
the needs Of Charleston required IL he felt
assured that 100000 coCld have been
raised within another month Many posts had
simultaneously received the call for aid
and the order to suspend operations. He rec
commended the appointment at once OF q compe-
tent comrade to write = history OF the organiza-
tiou. and suggested that the general government
will include in the next decennial census an
enumeration of the soldiers Of the late war Of
the rebellion who may be living In 1890. Beliey-
ing that the practice OF moving The national head
quarters to the place where the commander-in-
chief resides Is becoming impracttcabie owing 20
accumulation Of the property OF the order, he
IECOtLiU ltnlc tnLl u u tIA1 Qu
located AZ some central point, and that an as
sistant adjutant general be pui in charge-
N THE MATTER OF PENSIONS
It has been an aim OF the order TO have congress
grant relief Of the pressing needs OF the CON-
radex. The government has responded In many
instances Influence has been brought to bear
phsn homes and laws for temporary relief Of in
digent soldiers and their families have been
passed. For this work more than any other has
the Grand Army Of the Republic lived-thfs
than all elaa has anp0hlad ira Hfa-f0r this
purpose the Grand army viii In the future give
its earnest endeavors and by reason OF its per-
sistent endeavors IL will be remembered The
Grand Army. with the approval OF the people In
general, have enlisted in this cause. Men OF all
shades of political belief have been foremost In
these efforts. and never until THE year has 1t en-
tered the mind OF any well informed man 20
charge that this zeal in behalf Of cur needy com
radss WAS OF q political partisan character. The
Grand Army of the Republic will peyer consent
that this question OF pensions shall be clsssed
among those which men commonly call partisan
IL has been for MANY years discussed by post.
department and national e~ncampments- Reso-
and published. petitions ana APP
peals have often been sent 10
congress The efforts Of the newspapers Of the
captions they have heretofore benin full accord
L with the order There has been no change OF
opinion or change OF method in the ranks OF the
Grand Army members. They have been OF one
mind IN consideriug IL but simple justice that
the United States should a. least grant q pen
sion Of not less than Si2 per month TO all per-
sons who served, three months or more In the
military ordnance service OF the United States
during the war Of the rebellion and who have
been honorably discharged and who are
physical disability. not the RESULT of
their own vicious habits, which iucapzcitates
them Tor the performance OF manual labor. This
has esen publicly CIV sd h.so ss1ir ana All ~ @ss Sn s
ton. aud yet until recently there has been heard
no objection to such measures Rec4ase Others
have CHANGED then minds. the Grand Army need
not Therefore change theirs. The path IN this
direction hass been ST. llght. The order has d.
verged neither TO the rigbe nor to the Jeff. Be
cause The comrades need help the Grand
Army viii drar closer and closer TO them
They shall not be the inmates Of the common
pauper house. nor shall their widows on orphans.
II the Grand Army can prevent It. What is
asked now in the way Of general pensions has
been asked for years II is not demanding too
much. MANY members are OF the honest opin-
ion that II is not enough. fsvoring . broader
measure Of relief. which win embrace all who
served q certain length OF time aud eau show an
honorable dischsrge. commonly called the sery-
ice pension bill. Gen. Fairchild said he was not
there g. aIsne gains that as an ultimate meas q.
coming OF the iong-c0mine day Of
RELIEF 10 TIE SUFFERING.
He assured the members of the Veterans
Rights union that their kindly fsbors were
fully appreciated and congratulated them on
their marked success in the direction Of the en-
sorcemeut of laws giving preference for public
- fAN AA1a Va LII 30 ~
report beneicent results OF the woplau's relief
cnrps. The Jealous. thoughtfnt and efficient
labors Of the members have been in the pasE,are
now and without doubt will continue In the fn-
ture 10 be the most consihcins evidence
that they are banded together for high
and holy purposes The Grand Army
did not fail in the exercise Of =
deep and tender interest In the society Of the
Sons Of Veterans In fraternity, charity and
loyalty we stant proud Of the fact that there Is
not DOW nor has there ever b<3n any bitter feel
ing OF hate for ghose Of cur fellow citizens who
once In arms against us. but now being loyal
have long ago uken their old-time places In our
hearts. nevey. vi devoutly hope, 70 be removed
therefromL We have not now nor have we at
apy time since the var closed had any DISPOSE
ton to open again the bloody chssm which once
unhappiiy divided this peopleL We not only
viii not ourselves reopen the dreadful abyss,
but we win. with the loyal people Nogth
aud South. protest against all attempts which
others msy make 70 do sc by holding mp for
especial honor or distinction ANYTHING that per-
tains to or In any manner glorifles the osuse OF
disunion With the people seuth we only seek to